Ladies Third Team Celebrate Safety

Captain Bev Lyn led her ladies third team into battle tonight against Pool knowing they could secure their safety by avoiding defeat. For the visitors nothing less than victory would save them from the drop as with one match to play they trailed Wetherby by a single point. The hosts had lost heavily 7-1 at promoted Chapel Allerton on Wednesday but back at Castlegarth were confident of victory this evening.

Anne Lillywhite paired up with Bev Lyn at seed one against their Pool counterparts Julie Ettenfield and Katie Broome. Lillywhite was content to dominate the baseline with some wicked low cross court returns, often hit with tremendous venom, whilst the elegant Lyn was supremely calm at the net with her soft hands winning many points. The battling Pool duo tried in vain to stem the flow of winners from the hosts but Wetherby proved too strong and took a competitive opener 6-3. Oozing with confidence the home couple then really took control and not giving the hosts a sniff they upped the tempo and with Lyn showing some good tactical play they recorded a comfortable 6-1 success for a welcome 2-0 win.

Katie Barrett was joined by ladies second team player Louise Williams who kindly stepped in to cover absence. Williams, still on a high after celebrating promotion with the Wetherby A mixed team recently, was a good addition to the squad tonight and her aggressive net play and attacking forehand would prove a potent double weapon. Barrett is very calm under pressure and as well as picking up some excellent smashes was proving difficult to pass with a controlled baseline game. The Wetherby girls gelled immediately and put Melanie Tyson and Jackie Broome under severe pressure from the off. They didnt show any mercy in dishing out a comprehensive 6-0 opening set success. The second set was much the same with Barrett and Williams extremely confident and playing some wonderful tennis they ran out 6-1 winners for a fantastic 2-0 victory which gave them a 4-0 opening round lead. This already ensured they could not now be beaten and relegation was avoided provided a further set was completed.

Round Two began but with the clouds darkening and rain in the air the chances of a finish were rescinding. However Wetherby knew they needed another completed set for the match result to stand so Lillywhite and Lyn quickly set about Tyson and Broome. With error free tennis they again controlled the field well and moving their opponents stylishly around court they soon had the scoreboard ticking over nicely. A 6-1 victory was just reward for a very professional performance.

Barrett and Williams were also showing little sign of slowing down as they took on Ettenfield and Katie Broome. This proved a tougher contest and the Wetherby girls had to remain focused but sticking to a simple game plan they continued to produce some impressive winners and the pair recorded a 6-2 first set victory.

At 6-0 to the hosts the rain intervened but the job had been done and a rain sodden quartet celebrated enthusiastically.

So a tough first season in Division Two ultimately saw Wetherby show enough battling qualities so accumulate enough points to secure their place in the section next year and a big well done to captain Bev Lyn and her players on achieving that goal. A good performance tonight means the final game with Armley is now a dead rubber which will take the pressure off for sure.